Local News

IEMA Encourages Participation in ‘America’s PrepareAthon!’ on April 30

First National Day of Action Expected to Draw Millions of Participants

SPRINGFIELD – On April 30, millions of people are expected to take part in the first-ever America's PrepareAthon!, a national day for preparedness actions sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies throughout the state are encouraging individuals, families, businesses, schools, community organizations and others to be part of the event by participating in a preparedness activity related to tornadoes or floods.

For its part, IEMA will conduct a tornado drill for 120 employees in its largest workplace in Springfield. The five-story building houses more than half of the agency's employees and was damaged when tornadoes struck Springfield on March 12, 2006. IEMA will conduct tornado drills at its other facilities at later dates to ensure employee preparedness.

"Tornadoes and floods are two hazards we know well in Illinois," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. "But just recognizing these hazards isn't enough. It's even more important to take action to prepare for those hazards. The national day of action on April 30 provides an excellent opportunity for people, businesses, schools and others to practice their plans."

America's PrepareAthon! is a new nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises conducted twice a year.

Miner Foundation donates $100,000

The Central Unit Four School District at Clifton is a beneficiary of the Miner Charitable Foundation. The school district will receive $100,000 to go toward improvements for the school's auditorium and main building.

In return, the auditorium will be renamed in honor of the late Harold and Jean Miner of rural Watseka.

The foundation was established for the benefit of students and communities of Iroquois County.

Unit Four School Superintendent Tonya Evans said "we're very excited about the opportunity to upgrade our facilities and equipment for the fine arts program with this donation."

The program includes band, chorus, theatrical plays and other activities that use the auditorium.

The Miners were especially interested in music and the arts. Jean Miner was an accomplished musician and a member of a professional vocal trio with her sisters. She was a church organist for 30 years and played at the Iroquois County Fair draft horse show for many years.

Harold, a successful farmer and investor, served as one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's feed grains advisers in the 1970s, then on the advisory committee of U.S. Trade Representatives Clayton Yeutter and Carla Hill.

The donation to Central is the largest since the late Charles Studt, a bachelor farmer from rural Ashkum, left the athletic department nearly $108,000 after his death in 2007 and established a $350,000 fund with the University of Illinois Foundation to fund scholarships for Central students pursuing agriculture or engineering degrees.

Defense attorney Ed Glazar had asked the court to move the trial for his 34-year-old client, claiming Condon cannot receive a fair trial in Iroquois County due to pretrial publicity. Glazar claimed that more than two-dozen newspaper articles that have been published about the case since Nov. 14, 2012, have prejudiced potential Iroquois County jurors.

Condon has pleaded innocent to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the October 2012 fatal shooting of 27-year-old Jonathan Rubin of Danforth. Records show Rubin was killed at the Shell gas station in Gilman where worked.

Tuesday is Earth Day in Illinois

The governor says he wants Illinoisans to get outdoors and involved in conservation and sustainability efforts in the state. He says every day should be Earth Day in Illinois and residents should work to make Illinois the greenest state in the nation. He says "everyone should do their part to help preserve, sustain and beautify" Illinois.

The governor notes that later this week he will host The Council of Great Lakes Governors' annual meeting. Quinn is co-chair of the group of governors of eight U.S. states that border the Great Lakes along with leaders of two Canadian provinces. The meeting will address economic and environmental issues.

Route 17 improvement project funded by state

Kankakee Valley Construction Company has been awarded a $8.2 million stipend for the already-announced Illinois Route 17 widening project.

Gov. Pat Quinn's office sent out a news release Thursday announcing the two-year widening and resurfacing project.The 3.3-mile segment of Route 17 West out to the Limestone School Road in Limestone will be widened and resurfaced.

A 13-foot wide center turn lane will be added through the entire stretch of highway and 8-foot-wide shoulders also will be added on each side. The entire segment will receive a new asphalt surface.